Brick mason&#39;s level



Jv K. HILL A ril' 26, 1932.

BRICK MASON S LEVEL Filed June 7, 1929 ATTORNEY WITNESS:

Patented Apr. 26, 1932 UNE'TED STATES JESSE K. HILL, OF ATLANTA, GEORGIA BRICK MASON S LEVEL Application filed. June 7,

My present invention has reference to a brickmasons tool, my object being the provision of a tool that shall comprise a com bined straight edge and level and which is equipped with turnable means which when turned right angularly with respect to the stock of the tool will project therefrom to rest against the bricks and whereby the me chanic can both level and straighten the wall in a single operation by holding the tool in one of his hands and employing his other hand for driving in or out the bricks which are not in proper alinement. v

To the attainment of the foregoing and other objects which will present themselves, the invention consists in the improvement hereinafter described and definitely claimed.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of my improved tool arranged upon a partly erected wall.

Figure 2 is a sectional view on the line H of Figure 1.

The tool comprises a substantially rectangular somewhat elongated stock 1. This stock, adjacent to its ends, has arranged there in oppositely arched bubble glasses 2 which are visible through transparent plates 8. Also the stock from points opposite its center is provided with other bubble glasses that are observable through transparent plates. One of these bubble glasses is disposed longitudinally with respect to the plane of the stock, 1. and is indicated by the numeral 4. The other bubble glasses are oppositely curved and are indicated by the numeral 5. Of course, suitable liquids are employed in all of the bubble or level glasses.

The stock except for the particular and peculiar arrangement of the bubble glasses is of the ordinary construction, and the said stock has arranged adjacent to one of its edges at preferably equidistantly spaced intervals turn buttons 6 which are movable over one of the faces of the stock 1. A bolt member 7 has its kerfed head received in a ring portion at the center of each of the turn buttons and the shank 8 of the said bolt is screwed in the nut 9 which is suitably housed in the stock. The nut 9 after being screwed to the bolt 8 is received in a cup- 1929. Serial No. 369,222.

shaped element 10 having frictional contact with the wall of the opening and is adapted to close that end of the opening in which the nut is located. The face of the stock over which the turn buttons are arranged is provided with a pocket 11 that surrounds the opening through which each of the bolts 8 pass and arranged in each of these pockets and surrounding each of the shanks 8 and exerting a tension between the lower wall of the pocket'and the inner flat face of the turn button there is a coil spring 12. The spring 12 normally tends to force the turn button away from the stock but by adjusting the nut 7 the turn button mayhave its inner flat face arranged in proper contacting engagement with the'face of the stock and the spring will hold the turn button from free movement.

The inner and outer courses of brick of the wall 13 are laid in the same manner. As disclosed by Figure 1 two spaced bricks 1d are arranged on the outer course of the wall 13. These bricks comprise key bricks and are laid and set in the ordinary manner. Thereafter mortar and bricks are put down as accurately as possible with the eye between the key bricks before putting the straight edge of the level to its place. When the mortar and bricks are laid certain of the turn buttons of my improvement are turned to rest upon the key bricks lt, and the bricks between the key bricks are then tapped down to their place which completes the operation of the laying of the bricks. The stock, of course, holds the outer face of the bricks thus laid in parallelism and the upper faces of the brick. are arranged in the same plane as the key bricks 1% as the bricks between the key bricks are tapped down to the straight edge provided by the stock, so that my improvement provides a means that produces a straight edge and device for leveling the work at the same time. The result is that the course may be laid in an easy and expeditious manner as is ordinary, but the outer faces of the bricks that have just been laid will be all sustained in proper alinement, which is not true with respect to the ordinary process of laying bricks and consequently the employment of lines or other means for sustaining the bricks in both their proper and horizontal positions is materially expedited by the employment of my tool.

As is Well known there is not only an adhesion but a suction created by the mortar with the bricks laid thereon and with the ordinary process of laying bricks this suction and adhesion will cause the bricks to be projected or lie below the adjacent bricks. With my improvement it will be obvious that such bricks cannot project beyond the bricks that have been previously laid to provide the face of the Wall and as the bricks are separately laid such last mentioned bricks may be readily laid and additional mortar placed therein and the face of the bricks will not be contacted by the mortar and consequently is retained in a clean condition.

The improvement in addition to being employed in the position just described will be found very efiicient upon corners of a building,ithe erection of chimneys, fines, piers, mantles, pilasters and all other class of Work which the mechanic knows as leads. The bricks 14 are known in the art as key bricks.

It is believed the foregoing description will fully set forth the construction and advantages of the invention to those skilled in the art without further detailed description.

Having described the invention, I claim:

A brick masons level comprising an elongated and straight edge stock adapted to be engaged with and held against spaced key bricks of a brick Wall under construction to permit other bricks to be brought in engagement therewith to align them with the key bricks, bubble glasses carried by said stock, said stock having openings extending therethrough and said openings having the ends thereof enlarged, headed bolts extending into said openings, fastening elements threaded to said bolts and confined in the openings, closure elements engaging the fastening elements and closing the respective ends of said openings, turn buttons mounted on the bolts between the stock and the headed ends of the bolts and adapted to engage the key bricks, andcoil springs mounted on the bolts within the openings and bearing against the buttons to place the latter under tension to prevent accidental movement thereof.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

JESSE K. HILL. 

